Exs 03_Bioenergetics_Chap03

Homeostasis

The body's tendency to maintain stable internal conditions.

Control System

A system that regulates physiological processes, comprising three parts: a sensor, a control center, and effectors.

Adaptation

The process by which the body adjusts to changes in its environment, particularly in relation to exercise.

Bioenergetics

The study of energy flow through living systems, particularly the conversion of food into usable energy.

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions that require energy input to proceed, resulting in a net gain of energy.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy, often through the breakdown of molecules.

Aerobic Pathways

Metabolic pathways that require oxygen to produce ATP, primarily occurring in the mitochondria.

Anaerobic Pathways

Metabolic pathways that do not require oxygen for ATP production, occurring in the cytoplasm.

Substrates

Compounds that enter metabolic pathways to undergo chemical reactions and eventually produce energy.

NADH

The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an important coenzyme in cellular respiration that carries electrons.

Oxidation

The process of removing electrons from a molecule, often linked to the loss of hydrogen.

Reduction

The addition of electrons to a molecule, often linked to the gain of hydrogen.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions used to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Phosphagen System

An anaerobic energy system utilizing phosphocreatine to quickly regenerate ATP.

Glycolysis

The enzymatic breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, producing small amounts of ATP and NADH.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction in metabolic pathways.

Chemiosmotic Hypothesis

Theory describing how ATP is generated through the movement of hydrogen ions across a membrane during oxidative phosphorylation.

Lactate

The conjugate base of lactic acid, formed from pyruvate in anaerobic respiration.

Triglycerides

The main form of stored fat in the body, broken down into glycerol and fatty acids for energy.

Decarboxylation

The process of removing a carboxyl group from a molecule, often leading to the production of carbon dioxide.

Efficiency of Oxidative Phosphorylation

The ratio of energy produced in the form of ATP compared to the total energy available from substrate oxidation, often expressed as a percentage.